Grafton to Parsons; Distance = 45 Miles; People Met = 37
On this stretch the kindness started when John Jagy and Gary Skidmore stopped to chat with us. They were returning from playing golf at the Tygart Lake public course. Gary had seen us walking previously, before Grafton, and he just had to find out what we were doing. They told us to stop in at the golf course just up ahead and tell folks they sent us.
John and Gary
We arrived at Tygart Lake Public Golf Course at lunch time and asked if we could use their restrooms and eat at a picnic table. Phil and Melody brought us out Cokes and gave us two golf caps to take with us.
Phil and Melody of Tygart Public Golf Course
The next day, the last day of March, we were nearing the end of our day when a young man named Tim came out on his porch to tell us not to worry about the dog. He had a guitar slung around him and that began a conversation. His mom Anita, dad Mike and neighborhood kid Kendall joined him on the porch and we all got to chatting a bit.
Neighbor Kendall, Son Tim, Anita and Mike
Both Tim and Anita had life threatening experiences that made them grateful to be alive. I don’t know if they were already inclined to kindness before those experiences but they were most eager to help us along our way and generous. Mike offered to bring us firewood to the campground down the road. We declined that offered, but did accept the hot dogs, bread and bottled water they offered.
In theory packs are supposed to get lighter as you get from point A to point B, but people keep giving us stuff. Then there was the town of Parsons. We arrived on Sunday in time to attend the St. Johns United Methodist Church service. We started out asking if we could set up a tent on their lawn that evening. Check. Then Pastor Phil Dent invited us to stay inside the building, and invited us for their pizza lunch and Easter egg hunt for the kids.
Pastor Phil Dent at the Easter egg hunt
I went out on the town to do get some food supplies for our overnight stay in town and the next stretch and other errands. By the time I came back Pastor Phil arranged for us to stay at Parsons Country Inn, Ken Bott proprietor, with supper and breakfast at their restaurant thrown in. I donated some of the food I bought to the church and resolved to pack some of the excess, expanding the weight of our packs further.
Our stay in Parsons was special beyond this act of kindness. I was allowed to join the choir in the singing of an Easter cantata that evening. I was also able to interview Ken Bott about his ministry to help the homeless as the proprietor of an Inn. Here is the podcast for that interview.
From chatting with Ken and Pastor Phil together I got a possible insight as to why the young are doing great at volunteering but not as well with community involvement. I’ve known for awhile that churches can get set in their ways, a disincentive for youth to get involved. There may be ways in which communities as a whole get too set in their ways to warrant much community involvement by the young who want to bring their own new ideas to the table.
Other Photos
Tom instructed us how to get out of Grafton City on our route
L to R: Garrett, Stacey, Jordan and Mason were interested in our journey
We chatted with Jack and Connie as they waited to pick up their grandkids
Divided household
I belive that my 3 children and I saw you both as you walked the Allegheney rail trail in Parsons Wv thru Millrace Park. I am glad that some people in this world are unselfish and can still see the light of the lord! We didnt speak, but I now understand your message, Best Wishes!
Thank you for checking in Carrie. I regret we did not have a chance to meet you. Yours in kindness, Kirk.
Greetings again,
It just dawned on me that you were the family out doing yard work as we went by. I thought you all had kind, friendly faces.
Kirk